The key to peace in Rivers State is held by the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) Chief Anthony Mac Pepple, has said.
In a statement on Monday and made available to newsmen, Chief Pepple appealed to the first Lady to set in motion, a move to re-unite the Minister of State for Education Nyeson Wike and Governor Rotimi Amaechi.
He also advised the key players in the protracted crisis to desist from making utterances that would worsen the situation in the state.
He said the first Lady should as a mother of all pardon any wrong done ‘knowingly and unknowingly by any of them in the course of the crisis.”
This was as he tasked the warring factions in the state to lay down their arms and embrace the ongoing peace initiative by President Goodluck Jonathan.
He commended the former Deputy national Chairman of the party Dr Sam Jaja for his fatherly attempt to restore peace in River state.
He said: “I want to use this medium to call on our party stalwarts and faithful to go back to the drawing board and ensure the return of our Elder Brother to the National Working Committee come August 31st Convention. His victory will be a victory for all Rivers People, a victory for the South South and a victory for Peace.
He called on youths in the state to resist any attempt to use them in settling political scores, even as he expressed joy over the current move by President Jonathan to unite the warring factions in the state.
He said: “‘It will bring great joy to my heart to see a repeat of another Peace initiative between His Excellency our Governor and our elder brother the Honorable Minister of State for Education .
“I humbly appeal to our President, their Elder Brother and leader to please orchestrate a means for reconciliation among all bitter parties in Rivers State particularly between my brother and Minister of State for Education and his brother and boss, His Excellency the Governor of Rivers State.
” We are not happy with the present dispute between them being eager to see them work again with a singularity of purpose in love and harmony.
I use this opportunity to commend our Mummy( Mother of our great Nation) Her Excellency Dame Patience Jonathan for her role in putting her house in order, we encourage her to fasten the virtue of amity on her Sons the Governor and Minister and to pardon any wrong done knowingly and unknowingly.
“Dear Mummy, as a Son of Rivers State I crave to behold the great day in the Politics of Rivers State when this Peace process will be revealed when our Mummy will publicly stand as a peace bond and sustainable love resolution between our two senior brothers; our Governor and Minister of State.
“It concerns me most that our PDP State Chairman Mr Felix Obua’s actions lately are still not in line with the propagation of peace as the solution to this crisis, Sir your statements and pronouncements are heating up the polity rather than promoting lasting Peace. Citing your recent announcement of the suspension of Senator Magnus Abe and Hon Dakuku Peterside.
“Sir this won’t be the best approach to consequence stability which is one of your obligatory roles as head of the Party in the State. I’d rather you imitate the National Reconciliation Spirit to bring about lasting peace among aggrieved factions in the Party.
“I want to personally congratulate His Excellency Rt Hon Chibike Ameachi for the courage put in during this trial period, this shows that he’s an ordained leader. I pray that God bless you with long life and wisdom to continue governing your people, we promise to uphold and emulate your matured strides in delivering democracy”.